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Thursday, October 25, 2012

I believe there is only one thing you need to know about
fiction in any genre. Got your attention? Here it is: It’s the character’s
story; you’re just writing it down.

As I get to know the people, their story unfolds. Somehow,
it always involves a woman, danger, mystery, and suspense.

And the characters must be unique from the onset. No one
wants to read a book about a clerk in a drug store…boring! …unless she is also
a martial arts expert, drives an unreliable 1975 Super Beetle with a leaky soft
top, and whose grandmother packs a 9 mill to the supermarket. Now things get
interesting!

And I want the stories to end with an awakening dependence
on faith, and an expectation of romance.

Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Getting married to my wife, Sheryl (41 years ago on a Friday
the 13th), was the happiest event.
All good things have come from our partnership and commitment. But honestly, I
was kind of out of it during the whole ceremony/reception thing. So I wouldn’t
necessarily call it the happiest day!
Good thing we had pictures.

Wow! I was born on a
Friday the 13th. How has being published changed your life?

Recently, I was invited to teach at a creative writing class
at a junior college. Being published gives me the credentials to teach others
some of the great things I’ve learned from conferences and workshops. What a
blast! I can’t wait to do more.

Another great thing is handing out a card with my book cover
on the front and a code for a free download on the back. I did that a few days
ago to my dermatologist, and again today at SuperCuts to the girl who cut my
hair. Who knows what will come from that?

What are you reading
right now?

I just finished a YA novel, Fathom, by Merrie Destefano—an intriguing and beautiful story that
deserves a ton of praise. Couldn’t put it down, and didn’t want it to end.
Well-written YA stories teach me how to get deep into the character’s head, and
deal with a world full of conflict, danger, betrayal, and love—all from a young
person’s position of limited power. I want to write like that.

What is your current
work in progress?

DESPERATION FALLS: Lena Blaylock is the “sexy” carpenter on the
cable TV home improvement show, Nail It!...until
her world is destroyed in seconds one night as she celebrates her six-month
wedding anniversary with her assistant district attorney husband. A year later,
she is healed and beginning a new life at Storm Lake, California, as the owner
of the dilapidated Desperation Falls Fishing Cabins, when an ex-lawman, a
teenage runaway girl, and a dead body, turn everything upside down. Fixing up
the cabins is the easy part.

I love your heroine’s
name. ;-) What would be your dream vacation?

Being able to go on vacation and write at the same time, but
I can never do it. If we’re in someplace new, I always want to make the most of
the time and see the sights. No writing gets done. Sigh.

My favorite vacations are to beautiful places. This summer
we went to Vancouver Island in Canada,
then stopped at Forks, Washington,
(home of Twilight). Forks wasn’t much, but Lake Crescent and the lodge were
fabulous. I’d like to stay there someday.

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

I believe settings are very important to stories, so I try
to create someplace where I want to
live or visit. Both Perilous Cove and nearby Storm Lake are fictional
composites of the best of areas I know along the California coast.

If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

The most scintillating conversations I’ve ever had have been
with fellow writers. Therefore, I think I’d pick Dean Koontz. The guy is funny,
loves dogs, and has the strangest writing method with the most amazing
outcomes. I want to know how his characters take shape; how he can write half a
page of narrative without using “was” one time; how he contrasts such evil
against good. Four or five hours wouldn’t be nearly enough time.

What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I have a 1932 Ford pickup that I hope to have back up and
running by next summer. It’s been in my family since about 1939, and I learned
to drive in it. I also love to tinker and do home projects, and I have the
tools and tool chests to prove it. That’s why Lena Blaylock is close to my
heart (see question #5).

In the late 1960s, we
owned a 1937 International pickup. I loved driving that. What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

No question, it’s figuring out what the story is. Characters are the easier part for me. I have
trouble deciding what the external intrusion is that disrupts their lives. My
overactive imagination spins the story in all directions, and trying to keep it
on track and have it make sense is my biggest challenge. Can you tell I’m a
seat-of-the-pants writer?

I’ve just begun using Scrivener, and I think the corkboard
view is helping me visualize the story flow better than having one large
manuscript. Now, if I could just figure out who the bad guy is…

What advice would you
give to a beginning author?

Learn the craft. You’ve gotta do it. Conferences and
workshops are vital. New writers—and I was no exception—don’t realize how much
there is to learn. A few (very few) have a lot of natural talent. The rest of
us have to learn. Once you are comfortable with your writing, sign up for a
mentoring group at a conference. This is the
best way to test your story and your skill, and receive feedback from others.
It’s a little scary, but extremely valuable.

Tell us about the
featured book.

American Rayne Evans is on the verge of making it big in Europe’s competitive symphonic metal music scene, when a
deranged fan attacks her band at their biggest concert.

She’s forced to hide while she heals in the only safe place: Storm Lake,
California, where no one would know to look. But the picturesque lake holds
Rayne’s deepest secret, and a different kind of danger from a man she thought
she’d never see again. If she’s not careful, she could lose her band, her
career, and her life.

Ben Conner made his choice years ago, and it hadn’t been to chase after Rayne
Evans. It took years, but he’s recovered from her betrayal. Now she’s come to
him for help, and he can’t turn her away. But helping her could tear holes in
the life he’s built for a young boy and for himself.

“Thank you.” Regen van Onweer tilted a
bottled water to her lips, but pulled it away without drinking. She’d be
running to the bathroom between every song.

The woman staring back in the mirror looked composed, confident. “Pretense,
that’s what counts,” Aunt Ruth had always told her. But that had been years ago
in Nebraska before Regen van Onweer existed,
not here in Rotterdam.

Her cell phone vibrated an excited dance on
the dressing table. Unknown Caller ID. Only a few people had her new number.
Her hand trembled as she pushed the answer button.

“Hello?”

A voice whispered, “Did you get my giiift?”

Regen’s eyes cut to the trash bin and the
hideous flower as she jabbed the disconnect button. How had he gotten this
number?

The door clicked, opened inward, and Regen
shot to her feet, sending the cell phone to the hard tile floor where it split
into its component pieces. They spun to a stop at the feet of the woman in the
doorway—Lorna Nairne, her costume and hair expert. Lorna’s smile faded at
Regen’s shuddering breath. Bending down, Lorna scooped up the battery, cover,
and phone, while Regen worked air into frozen lungs.

“You okay, Ree girl? You look a little
spooked.” Lorna’s accent rolled off her tongue like the Jamaican native she
was, though Regen had heard her speak flawless King’s English when it benefited
her. Lorna deposited the electronic parts into Regen’s cupped hands.

Regen nodded her response. She swiveled
toward the dressing table, fingers trembling as she inserted the battery and
snapped on its cover. “I’m just nervous, you know.” Her voice sounded as phony
as a B-movie actress. Pretense wasn’t up to par. With battery in place, the
phone buzzed happily, rebooting and searching for the cellular network,
readying itself for the next call. Regen held her breath until the display went
dark

Lorna laughed in lilting tones, moved behind
Regen, and watched in the mirror as she tugged Regen’s black wig right and left
until satisfied. She gave Regen a calculated once-over in the glass, then
nodded.

“Yes, dis is a big night, Regen van Onweer,
but you are ready.” She massaged Regen’s shoulders. “You may not think it too
much right now, but you are.”

Regen closed her eyes under Lorna’s kneading
fingers. The Dutch police still had no leads on the caller, but security at the
Ahoy Rotterdam had been beefed up for tonight’s concert. There was even an
Interpol inspector onsite. He’d checked in with her earlier.

Lorna had Regen stand and pirouette. The
wide, multilayered Victorian skirt dusted the floor on the sides and back, but
had a front cutaway to show off black leather knee boots that each sported a
dozen silver buckles.

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Lorilyn: Thanks. Yep, plenty to learn yet for me. I've heard other authors say they are never confident they can "do it again" when beginning a new book. I know that's true for me. But somehow the story just wants to come out, and I have to write it. Now, whether it makes any kind of sense... :-)

(Loretta contacted me by email when she had trouble leaving a comment on the blog. She asked if I could post the following for her):

Rich, great blog:) And we have the love of Koontz in common. My favorite of his will always be "Watchers"...the dog had me on the first page:)Your book sounds excellent, so definitely put my name in the drawing!:)My name is Loretta Wheeler, and I'm from Houston, Texas.